Notice of Availability of the Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Draft Land Use Plan Amendments and Draft Environmental Impact Statement, 70571-70573 [2013-28295]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 228 / Tuesday, November 26, 2013 / Notices Dated: November 20, 2013. Tracey Denning, Agency Clearance Officer, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. [FR Doc. 2013–28277 Filed 11–25–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9111–14–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–HQ–IA–2013–N250; FXIA16710900000–134–FF09A30000] Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking; Rescheduled Meeting Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of meeting. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a public meeting of the Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking (Council). This meeting is being rescheduled from October 21, 2013. DATES: The meeting will be held on Monday, December 16, 2013, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time). Members of the public who want to participate in the meeting must notify Mr. Cade London by close of business on Monday, December 9, 2013. See additional instructions under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, Procedures for Public Input. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of the Interior, South Interior Building Auditorium, 1951 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20240. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cade London, Special Assistant— USFWS International Affairs, by U.S. mail at 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 110, Arlington, VA 22203; by telephone at (703) 358–2584; by fax at (703) 358– 2276; or by email at cade_london@ fws.gov. SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. app.), we announce that the Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking (Council) will hold a meeting to discuss committee structure and organization, the National Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking, and other council business as appropriate. emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Pursuant to E.O. 13648, the Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking was formed on August 30, 2013, to advise the Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking, through the Secretary of the Interior, on national strategies to combat VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:04 Nov 25, 2013 Jkt 232001 wildlife trafficking, including, but not limited to (a) effective support for antipoaching activities; (b) coordinating regional law enforcement efforts; (c) developing and supporting effective legal enforcement mechanisms; and (d) developing strategies to reduce illicit trade and consumer demand for illegally traded wildlife, including protected species. The eight-member Council, appointed by the Secretary of the Interior, includes former senior leadership within the U.S. Government, as well as chief executive officers and board members from conservation organizations and the private sector. For more information on the Council and its members, visit https://www.fws.gov/international/ advisory-council-wildlife-trafficking/. Meeting Agenda The Council will consider: 1. Advisory Council organization and process, 2. The National Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking, and 3. Other council business. The final agenda will be posted on the Internet at https://www.fws.gov/ international/advisory-council-wildlifetrafficking/. Procedures for Public Input Interested members of the public may submit relevant information for the Council to consider during the public meeting. Members of the public may register in advance to speak (by December 9, 2013), or they may submit written questions in advance for the Council to address during the meeting (by December 11, 2013). Nonregistered public speakers will not be considered during the meeting. Members of the public who want to make an oral presentation at the meeting will be limited to a total of 1 hour 30 minutes, to be distributed among all speakers. However, where time permits and if deemed appropriate by the Council Chair and DFO, additional time for public comment may be allotted. Interested parties should contact Cade London, Special Assistant— International Affairs (preferably via email), by Monday, December 9, 2013, to be placed on the public speaker list (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Registered speakers who wish to expand on their oral statements, or those who wanted to speak but could not be accommodated on the agenda, are invited to submit subsequent written statements to the Council after the meeting. Such written statements must be received by Mr. London, in writing (preferably via email) no later than December 23, 2013. PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 70571 In order to attend this meeting, you must register by close of business Monday, December 9, 2013. Because entry to Federal buildings is restricted, all visitors must preregister to be admitted. Please submit your name, time of arrival, email address, and phone number to Cade London (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Members of the public requesting reasonable accommodations, such as hearing interpreters, must contact Mr. London, in writing (preferably via email) no later than December 9, 2013. Summary minutes of the conference will be maintained at 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 110, Arlington, VA 22203, and on the Council Web site at https:// www.fws.gov/international/advisorycouncil-wildlife-trafficking/, and will be available for public inspection during regular business hours within 30 days following the meeting. Dated: November 20, 2013. Patrick Leonard, Deputy Assistant Director for International Affairs. [FR Doc. 2013–28329 Filed 11–25–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLOR930000.L11100000.DF0000. 13XL1109AF.LXSISGST0000–HAG13–0282] Notice of Availability of the Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Draft Land Use Plan Amendments and Draft Environmental Impact Statement Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Draft Land Use Plan (LUP) Amendments and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Oregon Sub-Region and, by this notice, is announcing the opening of the comment period. DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the Draft LUP Amendments/Draft EIS within 90 days following the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes notice of the Draft LUP Amendments/Draft EIS in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\26NON1.SGM 26NON1 emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES 70572 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 228 / Tuesday, November 26, 2013 / Notices public participation activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or mailings. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Oregon Greater SageGrouse Draft LUP Amendments/Draft EIS by any of the following methods: • Web site: https://on.doi.gov/ 1ewEQRc. • Email: blm_or_so_gsg_planning_ comments@blm.gov. • Fax: 503–808–6021. • Mail: BLM—Greater Sage-Grouse EIS, 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97204. Copies of the Oregon Greater SageGrouse Draft LUP Amendments/Draft EIS are available at the Oregon State Office at the above address or on the Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/or/ energy/opportunity/sagebrush.php. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joan Suther, Oregon Sub-Regional Greater Sage-Grouse Project Manager, telephone 541–573–4445; see address above; email jsuther@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM prepared the Oregon Greater SageGrouse Draft LUP Amendments and Draft EIS to address a range of alternatives focused on specific conservation measures across the Oregon range of the Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG). The Draft LUP Amendments/ Draft EIS is one of 15 separate planning efforts that are being undertaken as part of the BLM’s and the U.S. Forest Service’s National Greater Sage-Grouse Planning Strategy. The Draft LUP Amendments/Draft EIS propose to amend the LUPs for the Vale, Burns, Prineville, and Lakeview District Offices. The current management decisions for resources are described in the following LUPs: • Andrews 2005 • Baker 1989 • Brothers LaPine (east) 1989 • Lakeview 2003 • Southeastern Oregon 2002 • Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area 2005 • Three Rivers 1992 • Upper Deschutes 2005 Within the decision area, the BLM administers approximately 10 million acres of sage-grouse habitat. Surface management decisions made as a result VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:04 Nov 25, 2013 Jkt 232001 of the Draft LUP Amendments/Draft EIS will apply only to the BLMadministered lands in the decision area. The decision area is defined as those BLM-administered lands within two categories of habitat identified by the BLM in coordination with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife: • Preliminary Priority Habitat (PPH)—Areas identified as having the highest conservation value for maintaining sustainable GRSG populations; include breeding, late brood-rearing, and winter concentration areas. • Preliminary General Habitat (PGH)—Areas of seasonal or year-round habitat outside of priority habitat. The formal public scoping process for the LUP Amendments/EIS began on December 9, 2011, with the publication of a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register (76 FR 77008) and ended on March 23, 2012. The BLM held scoping open houses in January and February 2012. The BLM used public scoping comments to help identify planning issues that directed the formulation of alternatives and framed the scope of analysis in the Draft LUP Amendments/ Draft EIS. The scoping process was also used to introduce the public to preliminary planning criteria, which set limits on the scope of the Draft LUP Amendments/Draft EIS. Major issues considered in the Draft LUP Amendments/Draft EIS include special status species management (GRSG specifically), energy and mineral development, lands and realty (including transmission), vegetation management, and livestock grazing. The Draft LUP Amendments/Draft EIS evaluate six alternatives in detail, including the No Action Alternative (Alternative A) and five action alternatives (Alternatives B, C, D, E, and F). The BLM identified Alternative D as the preferred alternative. Identification of this alternative, however, does not represent final agency direction, and the proposed LUP amendments/Final EIS may reflect changes or adjustments based on information received during public comment, on other new information, or onchanges in BLM policies or priorities. The proposed LUP amendments/Final EIS may include objectives and actions described in the other analyzed alternatives or that are otherwise within the spectrum of alternatives analyzed. Alternative A would retain the current management goals, objectives, and direction specified in the current LUPs for each field office. Alternative B includes conservation measures from the Greater Sage-Grouse National Technical Team Report. Alternative C includes conservation PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 measures that various conservation groups submitted to the BLM and includes the removal of grazing in currently occupied habitat. Alternative C also includes proposed designation of an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). Alternative D includes conservation measures the BLM developed with the cooperating agencies. Alternative E is based on recommendations included in the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife Sage-Grouse Conservation and Assessment Strategy (2011), which includes an emphasis on protecting Core Areas with no development permissible in Greater Sage-Grouse habitat with evidence of Greater SageGrouse presence for major surface disturbing activities. Alternative F analyzes other management recommendations submitted by conservation groups and includes reduced grazing in currently occupied habitat. Alternative F also includes proposed designation of an ACEC. Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.7–2(b), this notice announces a concurrent public comment period on proposed ACECs. One ACEC is proposed in Alternative C. The Sage-Grouse Habitat ACEC would cover approximately 4,547,043 acres of Greater Sage-Grouse habitat. Another ACEC proposal is found in Alternative F. This SageGrouse Habitat ACEC proposal would include 17 ACECs covering approximately 4,040,202 acres of Greater Sage-Grouse habitat. The proposed ACECs within Alternative C would include the following resource use limitations if they were formally designated: Closed to fluid mineral leasing; designated as a right-of-way exclusion area; closed to livestock grazing; allowance of vegetation treatments only for the benefit of GRSG; and recommended for withdrawal from mineral entry. The proposed ACECs within Alternative F would include similar resource use limitations as presented in Alternative C, except that these proposed ACECs would have reduced livestock grazing levels and not be fully closed. Also, under Alternative F, ACEC resource use limitations would only apply to areas that are proposed to be managed for priority Greater SageGrouse habitat. In addition, Alternative D proposes sage-grouse conservation measures on a subset of existing ACECs containing more than 20 percent or 50 percent preliminary general management area sage-grouse habitat. Please note that public comments and information submitted—including names, street addresses and email addresses of persons who submit comments—will be available for public E:\FR\FM\26NON1.SGM 26NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 228 / Tuesday, November 26, 2013 / Notices review and disclosure at the above address during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2 Jerome E. Perez, State Director, Oregon/Washington. [FR Doc. 2013–28295 Filed 11–25–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–33–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLES956000 L14200000.BJ0000 14X] Eastern States: Filing of Plats of Survey Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will file the plats of survey of the lands described below in the BLM-Eastern States office in Springfield, Virginia, 30 calendar days from the date of publication in the Federal Register. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bureau of Land Management-Eastern States, 7450 Boston Boulevard, Springfield, Virginia 22153. Attn: Cadastral Survey. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The surveys were requested by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The lands surveyed are: emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: Fourth Principal Meridian, Wisconsin T. 48N., R. 3W. The plat of survey represents the dependent resurvey of a portion of the south and west boundaries, a portion of the subdivisional lines, and the east and west VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:04 Nov 25, 2013 Jkt 232001 center lines of Sections 15–17, 19–22, 30 and 31; the subdivision of Sections 15–22, 30, 31 and 35; and the corrective dependent resurvey of a portion of the subdivisional lines of Township 48 North, Range 3 West, in the State of Wisconsin, and was accepted September 26, 2013. Louisiana Meridian, Louisiana T. 5N., R. 1W. The plat of survey represents the dependent resurvey of a portion of the subdivisional lines; and the survey of the subdivision of Section 5 of Township 5 North, Range 1 West, of the Louisiana Meridian, in the State of Louisiana, and was accepted September 17, 2013. Louisiana Meridian, Louisiana T. 5N., R. 1W. The plat of survey represents the survey of a parcel of land held in trust for the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians within Lot 6, Pine Heights subdivision in Section 9 of Township 5 North, Range 1 West, of the Louisiana Meridian, in the State of Louisiana, and was accepted September 17, 2013. We will place a copy of the plats we described in the open files. They will be available to the public as a matter of information. If BLM receives a protest against the surveys, as shown on the plat, prior to the date of the official filing, we will stay the filing pending our consideration of the protest. We will not officially file the plats until the day after we have accepted or dismissed all protests and they have become final, including decisions on appeals. Dated: November 20, 2013. Dominica Van Koten, Chief Cadastral Surveyor. [FR Doc. 2013–28292 Filed 11–25–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–GJ–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS–AKR–GAAR–14152; PX.P0166543E.00.1] Notice to Terminate the Environmental Impact Statement on a Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve General Management Plan Amendment National Park Service, Interior. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: The National Park Service (NPS) is terminating the Wilderness Study and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a General Management Plan Amendment (GMPA) for Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. The NPS published a notice of intent to prepare an EIS on a GMPA/ Wilderness Study EIS for Gates of the SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 70573 Arctic National Park and Preserve in the Federal Register (75 FR 4413) on January 27, 2010. Public scoping occurred in the spring of 2010, a preliminary alternatives newsletter was distributed to the public in the fall of 2010, and a Wilderness Study newsletter was sent to the public in the winter of 2011. One of the key areas of focus for the EIS was a Wilderness Study for lands in the preserve that are presently identified as eligible but that have not been proposed for wilderness designation. Under the enabling legislation, Section 201 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), Congress provided for a right-of-way across the Kobuk Unit of the preserve for access to an adjacent mining district (ANILCA Section 201(4)(b)–(e)). In 2011, the State of Alaska, at the request of a project proponent, began preliminary field studies in preparation for the application for a right-of-way. If a complete application is received, the Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Transportation will jointly agree on the route for issuance of a right-of-way, after completion of an environmental and economic analysis prepared in lieu of an EIS which would otherwise be required under the National Environmental Policy Act. Funding by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority to study the feasibility of a road has accelerated the schedule for potentially filing a right-of-way application. Due to the possibility that a right-of-way application may be filed, the NPS decided to defer the Wilderness Study and complete the GMPA with an environmental assessment. The GMPA will include a wilderness stewardship plan and update the GMP to reflect current planning standards, including zoning, capacity, and desired conditions for management. The alternatives under consideration in the GMPA do not include any new facilities or substantial staffing changes, and are not expected to have significant impacts on the human environment. Greg Dudgeon, Superintendent, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, 4175 Geist Road, Fairbanks, AK 99709–3420; telephone (907) 457–5752. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dated: September 25, 2013. Joel Hard, Acting Regional Director, Alaska Region. [FR Doc. 2013–28367 Filed 11–25–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–EF–P E:\FR\FM\26NON1.SGM 26NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70571-70573]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28295]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLOR930000.L11100000.DF0000.13XL1109AF.LXSISGST0000-HAG13-0282]


Notice of Availability of the Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Draft 
Land Use Plan Amendments and Draft Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared 
Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Draft Land Use Plan (LUP) Amendments and a 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Oregon Sub-Region 
and, by this notice, is announcing the opening of the comment period.

DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the Draft LUP Amendments/Draft EIS within 90 days 
following the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes 
notice of the Draft LUP Amendments/Draft EIS in the Federal Register. 
The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other

[[Page 70572]]

public participation activities at least 15 days in advance through 
public notices, media releases, and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Oregon Greater Sage-
Grouse Draft LUP Amendments/Draft EIS by any of the following methods:
     Web site: https://on.doi.gov/1ewEQRc.
     Email: blm_or_so_gsg_planning_comments@blm.gov.
     Fax: 503-808-6021.
     Mail: BLM--Greater Sage-Grouse EIS, 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, 
Portland, OR 97204.
    Copies of the Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUP Amendments/Draft 
EIS are available at the Oregon State Office at the above address or on 
the Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/or/energy/opportunity/sagebrush.php.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joan Suther, Oregon Sub-Regional 
Greater Sage-Grouse Project Manager, telephone 541-573-4445; see 
address above; email jsuther@blm.gov. Persons who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above 
individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours 
a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above 
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM prepared the Oregon Greater Sage-
Grouse Draft LUP Amendments and Draft EIS to address a range of 
alternatives focused on specific conservation measures across the 
Oregon range of the Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG). The Draft LUP 
Amendments/Draft EIS is one of 15 separate planning efforts that are 
being undertaken as part of the BLM's and the U.S. Forest Service's 
National Greater Sage-Grouse Planning Strategy. The Draft LUP 
Amendments/Draft EIS propose to amend the LUPs for the Vale, Burns, 
Prineville, and Lakeview District Offices. The current management 
decisions for resources are described in the following LUPs:

 Andrews 2005
 Baker 1989
 Brothers LaPine (east) 1989
 Lakeview 2003
 Southeastern Oregon 2002
 Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area 
2005
 Three Rivers 1992
 Upper Deschutes 2005

    Within the decision area, the BLM administers approximately 10 
million acres of sage-grouse habitat. Surface management decisions made 
as a result of the Draft LUP Amendments/Draft EIS will apply only to 
the BLM-administered lands in the decision area. The decision area is 
defined as those BLM-administered lands within two categories of 
habitat identified by the BLM in coordination with the Oregon 
Department of Fish and Wildlife:
     Preliminary Priority Habitat (PPH)--Areas identified as 
having the highest conservation value for maintaining sustainable GRSG 
populations; include breeding, late brood-rearing, and winter 
concentration areas.
     Preliminary General Habitat (PGH)--Areas of seasonal or 
year-round habitat outside of priority habitat.
    The formal public scoping process for the LUP Amendments/EIS began 
on December 9, 2011, with the publication of a Notice of Intent in the 
Federal Register (76 FR 77008) and ended on March 23, 2012. The BLM 
held scoping open houses in January and February 2012. The BLM used 
public scoping comments to help identify planning issues that directed 
the formulation of alternatives and framed the scope of analysis in the 
Draft LUP Amendments/Draft EIS. The scoping process was also used to 
introduce the public to preliminary planning criteria, which set limits 
on the scope of the Draft LUP Amendments/Draft EIS.
    Major issues considered in the Draft LUP Amendments/Draft EIS 
include special status species management (GRSG specifically), energy 
and mineral development, lands and realty (including transmission), 
vegetation management, and livestock grazing. The Draft LUP Amendments/
Draft EIS evaluate six alternatives in detail, including the No Action 
Alternative (Alternative A) and five action alternatives (Alternatives 
B, C, D, E, and F). The BLM identified Alternative D as the preferred 
alternative. Identification of this alternative, however, does not 
represent final agency direction, and the proposed LUP amendments/Final 
EIS may reflect changes or adjustments based on information received 
during public comment, on other new information, or onchanges in BLM 
policies or priorities. The proposed LUP amendments/Final EIS may 
include objectives and actions described in the other analyzed 
alternatives or that are otherwise within the spectrum of alternatives 
analyzed. Alternative A would retain the current management goals, 
objectives, and direction specified in the current LUPs for each field 
office. Alternative B includes conservation measures from the Greater 
Sage-Grouse National Technical Team Report. Alternative C includes 
conservation measures that various conservation groups submitted to the 
BLM and includes the removal of grazing in currently occupied habitat. 
Alternative C also includes proposed designation of an Area of Critical 
Environmental Concern (ACEC). Alternative D includes conservation 
measures the BLM developed with the cooperating agencies. Alternative E 
is based on recommendations included in the Oregon Department of Fish & 
Wildlife Sage-Grouse Conservation and Assessment Strategy (2011), which 
includes an emphasis on protecting Core Areas with no development 
permissible in Greater Sage-Grouse habitat with evidence of Greater 
Sage-Grouse presence for major surface disturbing activities.
    Alternative F analyzes other management recommendations submitted 
by conservation groups and includes reduced grazing in currently 
occupied habitat. Alternative F also includes proposed designation of 
an ACEC. Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b), this notice announces a 
concurrent public comment period on proposed ACECs. One ACEC is 
proposed in Alternative C. The Sage-Grouse Habitat ACEC would cover 
approximately 4,547,043 acres of Greater Sage-Grouse habitat. Another 
ACEC proposal is found in Alternative F. This Sage-Grouse Habitat ACEC 
proposal would include 17 ACECs covering approximately 4,040,202 acres 
of Greater Sage-Grouse habitat. The proposed ACECs within Alternative C 
would include the following resource use limitations if they were 
formally designated: Closed to fluid mineral leasing; designated as a 
right-of-way exclusion area; closed to livestock grazing; allowance of 
vegetation treatments only for the benefit of GRSG; and recommended for 
withdrawal from mineral entry. The proposed ACECs within Alternative F 
would include similar resource use limitations as presented in 
Alternative C, except that these proposed ACECs would have reduced 
livestock grazing levels and not be fully closed. Also, under 
Alternative F, ACEC resource use limitations would only apply to areas 
that are proposed to be managed for priority Greater Sage-Grouse 
habitat. In addition, Alternative D proposes sage-grouse conservation 
measures on a subset of existing ACECs containing more than 20 percent 
or 50 percent preliminary general management area sage-grouse habitat.
    Please note that public comments and information submitted--
including names, street addresses and email addresses of persons who 
submit comments--will be available for public

[[Page 70573]]

review and disclosure at the above address during regular business 
hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2

Jerome E. Perez,
State Director, Oregon/Washington.
[FR Doc. 2013-28295 Filed 11-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-P
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